Method of tempering shoe uppers



Sept. 29, 1931. H. G. LUMBARD METHOD OF TEMPERING SHOE UPPERS Filed March 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l m 6 M L 6 W Sept. 29, 1931. H s. LUMBARD METHOD OF TEMPERING SHOE UPPERS Filed March 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1931 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY G. LUIEBARD, OF AUBURN, MAINE METHOD OF TEMPERIN G SHOE UPPEBS Application filed March 20, 1931. Serial'No. 524,189.

My invention relates to an improved associated with a moisture applying memmethod of tempering shoe uppers, and has her; and I to do more particularly, with the method of Fig. 1 is a perspective view of tempering moistening the leather uppers of shoes prior box having a perforate bottom, a portion of 6 to th lasting thereof. one end wall thereof being broken away to The principal object of my invention is to reveal therein a plurality of pairs of uppers decrease the period of time heretofore reassociated with moisture applying members.

uired for the tempering step of shoe manu- In the drawings the same reference nuacture. merals'refer to the same parts throughout A further object of my invention is to the several views. co

provide a method of tempering leather shoe In general, my invention consists in disuppers which ensures uniform, as well as p sing one of-a pair of shoe uppers right suflicient; moisture absorption. side out and the other inside out, and inter- A further object of my invention is to posing between the pair of shoe uppers a p id thod f te ri fabri li d molsture ladened piece of material having 6?; leather shoe uppers which will not result in the general configuration of a shoe upper, the spotting of either-the leather finish or 1n such intimate and uniform contact with the fabric lining. both uppers that each will absorb substan- A further object of my invention is to tlally equal quantities of moisture therefrom. provide a method of tempering leather shoe VReferring to the numbered parts of the uppers by which the amount of moisture abmpanying drawings, which illustrate a sorbed may be more directly and accurately P rred emb diment of my invention as controlled than by methods heretofore in espec all adapted for the tempering of delicately tinted leather uppers for womens I further object is to provide a method 6 have ShOWIl a 16ft S1106 upper 11, of tempering shoe uppers which is inexp nanda right shoe upper 12. Shoe uppers are sive, requiring but simple equipment, and generally receivedfrom the stitcher in an requiring far less personal supervision and lIlSlde Out CQIldltlOIL ft pper 11 is attention than fonner methods, SllOWIl as IGCGlVGCl f'IOHl the StltCheI', while Further objects relating to details and rlg t upper 12 has been turned right side 8 economies of operationand construction will h x ernal leather portions of the definitely a pear from the detailed descripppers are designated as 11* and 12, reti t f l I one i t I accomspectively, whereas the conventional linings plish the objects of my invention by th of fabric or other light material are desigmeans described in the following specificaa ed as 11 111 the left upper and 12 in the 35 tion. My invention'is clearly set forth and Ilgllt pper. A moisture applying member d fi d in th a nd d lai A tr 13 1s provlded which has the general shape ture constituting a preferred embodiment of and f rm f tl1e Shoe uppers with which it my invention is illustrated in the a'ceom- 15 t0 beassociated. 'Member 1318 preferably panying drawings forming a, part of this fOI'lIlQd Of medium weight felt, 01 similar specification, in which: 7 materrahca'pable of being readily saturated Figure l is a disassembled perspective Wl h llqu dsv view of a air of sho upp r a d a i .v The preferred method of tempering the ture applying member; a leather of shoe uppers in accordance with Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view my invention is as follows. The moisture through a pair of ho u pers and a i applying member 13 is charged with water ture applying member as associat d i a to the'desired extent, as by immersing it in cordance with my invention; I a quantity of water and squeezing out any Fig. 3 is a transver se ti nal vi excess which can not normally be retained 50 through the heels of a pair of'shoeuppers without dripping. The member 13 is then alined with the upper 11 and placed in contact with its lining 11*. The upper 12, which is right side out, is then alined with the member 13 and placed with its lining 12 in contact therewith. The uppers 11 and 12 are then pressed together so that the linings 11 and 12 are in intimate and uniform moisture absorbing relation with the waterladened member 13. The leather portions 11 and 12, being in close contact with the linings 11 and 12 respectively, readily absorb moisture carried by member 13. The upper 11, moisture applying member 13 and upper 12 thus constitute a unit and a number of such units are laid in a box 14 having a perforate bottom such as wire mesh material 15 and are allowed to remain therein for the period required for the leather portions 11 and 12 to absorb the necessary amount of moisture. They are then said to be in temper. In commercial practice a number of such boxes 14-, filled with uppers as described, are placed upon shelves in a closet and when the proper quantity of moisture has been absorbed by the leather of the uppers the members 13 are removed from the associated uppers 11 and 12 and the latter are then ready for lasting. The member 13 may be reused again and again in the same manner for the tempering of other pairs of uppers.

The above described method I have found to be particularly satisfactory for the tempering of delicately tinted uppers to be used in womens shoes. The water is transmitted to the inside surface of the leather and will not result in spotting or otherwise staining the external surface thereof. Because the water is transferred uniformly to the linings, no discoloration is effected therein. The present method reduces, by approximatcl y fifty percent, the period required for tempering by the methods heretofore in common use. The equipment required is simple and inexpensive and has the advantage of long life. The amount of moisture required in applying member 13, and the length of time required for the necessary absorption, may be readily determined for various kinds of leather by trial. The method may then be carried out with an absolute minimum of personal supervision.

lVhile I have described my method as especially adapted to the tempering of delicate leather, it is to be expressly understood that leather shoe uppers of less-delicate nature may be satisfactorily tempered by applying the moisture directly to the normally external surface of the leather. In this case the water-laden member 13 is placed upon the shoe upper having its right side out and the shoe upper which is inside out is placed thereon so that the leather uppers themselves are in cont ct with the member 13. This arrangement is particularly desirable where the lining is more delicate than the leather finish of the upper. Where a large number of uppers are to be tempered in boxes disposed upon shelves in a compartment, it may be found desirable to spread cloth or similar material upon the shelving and to spray the cloth or other material with Water before placing the boxes thereon.

It is also to be understood that the member 13 may be formed of materials other than felt, any absorbent material such as cloth, paper, etc., being contemplated. For the purpose of general efliciency, as well as to provide a direct means of regulating the amount of Water to be absorbed, the material for the member-.13, and its thickness, may be selected in terms of water containing or retentive capability. The kind of leather, its thickness, the material of which member 13 is composed, its thickness, the amount of moisture with which it is charged, and the surface to which it is applied, are all factors to be considered. The amount of water absorbed by a pair of uppers to effect tempering is easily determinable by Weighing them before and after association with member 13.

I am aware that the method herein disclosed may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of tempering shoe uppers which comprises disposing one upper right side out and a second upper inside out, and inter-posing a moisture ladened member between said uppers so that like surfaces of both uppers are in substantially uniform and equal contact with said member and absorb substantially equal quantities of moisture therefrom.

2. The method of tempering shoe uppers which comprises disposing one upper right side out and a second upper inside out, ar-

ranging a moisture ladened member similar in configuration to an upper between said uppers so that like surfaces of both uppers are adjacent each other but separated by said member, and pressing said uppers together upon said member so that said sur faces are in substantially uniform and equal contact with said member and absorb substantially equal quantities of moisture therefrom.

3. The method of tempering fabric lined leather shoe uppers which comprises disposing one upper with its fabric lined surface out and a second upper with its leather surface out, interposing a moisture ladened felt member similar in configuration to an upper between said uppers so that the fabric linings of both uppers are in substantially uniform and equal contact with said member and transmit substantially equal quantities of moisture for absorption by the leather of the uppers.

4. The method of tempering leather shoe uppers which comprises disposing one upper right side out and a second upper inside out, interposing a moisture ladened member similar in configuration to an upper between said uppers so that the normally internal surfaces of both uppers are in substantially uniform and equal contact with said member and absorb substantially equal quantities of moisture therefrom.

5. The method of tempering leather shoe uppers which comprises disposing one upper right side out and a second upper inside out, interposing a moisture ladened member similar in configuration to an upper between said uppers so that the normally external surfaces of both uppers are in substantially uniform and equal contact with said member and absorb substantially equal quantities of moisture therefrom.

6. The method of tempering shoe uppers which comprises disposing one upper right side out and a second upper inside out, interposing a water retentive member similar in configuration to an upper and charged with the requisite amount of water between said uppers so that like surfaces of both uppers are in substantially uniform and equal contact with said member and absorb substantially equal quantities of water therefrom.

7. The controlled method of tempering shoe uppers which comprises disposing one upper right side out and a second upper inside out, interposing a felt'member similar in configuration to an upper and charged with a definite amount of water, between said uppers so that like surfaces of both uppers are in substantially uniform and equal contact with said member and absorb substantially equal quantities of water therefrom, and removing said felt member from between said uppers when suflicient water has been absorbed therefrom.

8. The method of tempering shoe uppers which comprises moistening a member of absorptive material, interposing said member between a pair of uppers with substantially the entire area of each upper closely associated with a surface of said member, and placing said associated elements in a compartment until the moisture is transferred from said member to said uppers by absorption.

9. The method of tempering shoe uppers which comprises nesting together a plurality of uppers, interposing between each alternate pair of adjacent uppers a moisture ladened member from which the moisture may be transferred to said uppers by absorption, and placing said nested uppers with the interposed moisture ladened members in a compartment until the desired quantity of moisture has been transferred to said uppers.

10. The method of tempering shoe uppers which consists in moistening an absorbent member similar in configuration to a shoe upper, interposing said member between a pair of uppers with substantially the entire area of each'upper closely associated with said member, and placing said associated elements in a compartment until the desired quantity of moisture has been transferred from said member to said upper by absorption.

11. The method of tempering shoe uppers which comprises nesting together a plurality of uppers, interposing between each alternate pair of adjacent uppers a moisture ladened member having the same configuration as a shoe upper and from which moisture may be uniformly transferred to said uppers by absorption, and placing said nested uppers with the interposed moisture ladened members in a compartment until the desired quantity of moisture has been transferred to said uppers.

HENRY Gr. LUMBARD. 

